EDD ordered a second medical exam for my SDI claim - is this normal?

Yes, this is completely normal and happens randomly. EDD calls these IMEs (Independent Medical Exams) and they do them to verify your disability claim is legitimate. You absolutely MUST attend or they will cut off your benefits. I had one last year during my pregnancy disability claim. They're just making sure you're actually disabled according to their standards.

this happened to me too!! i got so paranoid thinking theyd cut me off. the doctor was actually pretty nice but he made me do all these movement tests and asked like 50 questions. my regular doc was mad they didnt trust his opinion lol

This is part of EDD's standard review process for SDI claims, especially ones that extend beyond 8 weeks. They're required by law to periodically verify disabilities through their own medical consultants. Make sure you bring all your medical records, imaging results (MRIs, X-rays), and a list of medications to the exam. Be honest about your good days and bad days - they understand that many conditions fluctuate. Do NOT cancel or reschedule unless absolutely necessary. If you miss this appointment without proper notification, EDD can suspend your benefits immediately. Also, don't be surprised if the doctor spends only 10-15 minutes examining you - this is typical for these evaluations.

No need to have your doctor send records ahead of time - just bring copies yourself. The IME doctor should already have received basic information from EDD about your claim. Focus on describing your limitations honestly, especially how your condition affects your ability to perform your specific job duties.

I went through this last year and it was SO STRESSFUL!!! The doctor barely looked at me and then wrote up this report that EDD used to try to cut off my benefits early! I had to appeal and it was a NIGHTMARE. Just be careful what you say in there - they're looking for any reason to stop paying you!!!

Have you tried calling EDD to ask more about why they scheduled this exam? Maybe there's something specific they're concerned about. I would want to know before going in.

just wondering but what happens if the IME doctor disagrees with your regular doctor? who wins that fight lol

I think this happens more often with back injuries because they can be complicated to diagnose and treat. My sister-in-law has fibromyalgia and they made her do three different IMEs during her claim period. Just be ready to explain your limitations clearly.

Update: I went to the IME today and it wasn't nearly as bad as I feared! The doctor was actually pretty thorough - spent about 30 minutes with me, reviewed my MRI results, had me do various mobility tests, and asked detailed questions about my pain levels and limitations. He seemed to agree with my regular doctor's assessment and said he'd submit his report to EDD within 48 hours. Thanks everyone for the advice and support!

Glad to hear everything worked out well with your IME! For anyone else facing this situation, it's worth noting that EDD typically schedules these exams when claims extend beyond certain timeframes or when they need additional medical clarification. The 10-week mark you mentioned is pretty common for triggering an IME review. The fact that you were already planning to return to work part-time next month probably worked in your favor too - it shows you're actively working toward recovery rather than trying to extend benefits unnecessarily. Hope your transition back to work goes smoothly!

Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else who might be worried about IMEs. I had one about 6 months ago for a knee injury claim, and like others have mentioned, it's really just part of their standard review process. The key thing I learned is to be completely honest about both your limitations AND your progress. Don't downplay your pain on good days, but also don't exaggerate on bad days. The doctors doing these exams see a lot of cases and can usually tell when someone is being genuine. One tip that helped me: I kept a simple pain/mobility journal for the week leading up to my IME, noting daily pain levels and what activities I could/couldn't do. It helped me give more specific examples during the exam rather than just saying "it hurts sometimes." The doctor seemed to appreciate the detailed information, and my benefits continued without any issues.

As someone who's been through the IME process twice with different conditions, I can confirm what others have said - it's really just standard procedure and not something to panic about. The timing of your IME at 10 weeks is pretty typical, especially for back injuries since they can vary so much in recovery time. One thing I'd add is to dress comfortably but don't go out of your way to look extra disabled or extra healthy - just be yourself. I made the mistake of wearing really baggy clothes to my first IME thinking it would help show my limitations, but it actually made some of the physical tests harder to perform properly. Also, if you have any assistive devices your doctor recommended (heating pad, back brace, etc.), mention those during the exam even if you're not using them that day. It helps paint a complete picture of your condition management. Good luck with your gradual return to work - sounds like you're handling this whole situation really well!

For anyone else dealing with IME anxiety, I went through this exact same situation last year with a wrist injury from a workplace accident. Got the letter around week 8 of my claim and immediately thought they were trying to cut me off. Turns out it's just their standard operating procedure - they have to verify claims that go beyond certain time periods for liability reasons. My IME doctor was actually more thorough than some of my regular appointments! He spent time reviewing my X-rays and asking about how the injury affected my daily activities and work tasks. The whole thing took about 45 minutes, and my benefits continued without any hiccups. One thing that really helped me was writing down a list beforehand of all the specific tasks I couldn't do because of my injury (typing for long periods, lifting boxes, using tools, etc.). Having concrete examples ready made the conversation much smoother than trying to remember everything on the spot while nervous. The 45-minute drive does suck though - I had a similar situation where the office was way out of my usual area. Just factor in extra time for traffic and finding parking. You've got this!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now - got my IME letter yesterday for a shoulder injury claim and immediately started panicking! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful. It sounds like this really is just standard procedure rather than them singling out my claim. I've been on SDI for about 9 weeks now, so the timing matches what others have mentioned about the 8-10 week review period. The advice about keeping a pain journal and writing down specific limitations is gold - I'm definitely going to start doing that this week before my appointment. My biggest worry was that they'd catch me on a good day and think I'm faking, but it sounds like being honest about the fluctuating nature of the condition is actually the right approach. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories, especially those who came back with updates after their exams. It really helps to know that most people get through this without issues when they have legitimate medical documentation. Still nervous, but way less stressed than I was this morning!